(Newser)
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Calm returned to the streets of Lebanon's capital today, a day after troops launched a major security operation to quell fighting touched off by the assassination of a top anti-Syrian intelligence chief. The country's police chief last night released details of the investigation into the killing of Brig. Gen. Wissam al-Hassan, describing a carefully planned car bombing that targeted the intelligence officer as he was moving about the capital in secret. Many in Lebanon blame Syria for the killing.

Seven people have died in clashes between pro- and anti-Syria factions sparked by the Friday assassination. The blast, the deadliest in Beirut in four years, killed two people in addition to al-Hassan. The police chief confirmed reports from Washington that an FBI team will arrive to help in the investigation in the next two days. Angry protesters tried to storm the government palace after al-Hassan's funeral on Sunday, but they were pushed back by troops who fired guns in the air and filled the street with tear gas.